The full moon shone over Ferrum when Selene returned from the forest.
Ailyn's words still echoed in her mind.
"The Moon isn't finished with you yet."
She didn't know what that meant.
She didn't know what was happening to her body.
Nor why her wolf had finally started speaking after so many years of silence.
But she did know one thing.
She was tired.
Tired of fighting alone.
When she entered the fortress, the hallways were already empty. Most of the residents were asleep, but light still spilled from beneath the council chamber door.
Another meeting.
Another night Liam wasn't with her.
Selene watched the closed door for a few seconds before heading to their chambers.
She didn't want to hear any more praise for Ravenna.
She didn't want to hear any more criticisms disguised as remarks aimed at her.
That night, she went to sleep without waiting for Liam.
Over the next few days, the distance between them grew.
Not abruptly.
Not through huge fights.
But through small absences.
Small silences.
Small disappointments.
Those were the things that truly destroyed a relationship.
Liam left before dawn.
He came back late.
Many times, he found Selene already asleep.
Other times, she was the one pretending to be asleep.
Neither of them seemed to know how to cross the wall rising between them.
One cold morning, Selene was walking through the gardens when she heard two servants whispering near the fountain.
They didn't notice her presence.
"They say Lady Ravenna is staying in Ferrum longer."
"I'm not surprised."
"The elders adore her."
"And the Alpha seems to trust her a lot, too."
Selene kept walking.
As if she hadn't heard.
But she had.
Every word.
That afternoon, Liam found her in the library.
She was sitting near the window, trying to read.
Trying to occupy her mind.
Trying not to think.
"Can I come in?"
Selene looked up.
"You never had to ask."
Liam noticed the coldness in her voice.
He sat down across from her.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
Until he sighed.
"Are you still upset about what happened in the garden?"
"No."
"Selene..."
"I'm not upset about the garden."
"I'm upset because you didn't believe me."
Silence fell between them.
Liam ran a hand through his hair.
"I never said I didn't believe you."
"You didn't have to."
"I was trying to understand what happened."
"No."
"You were trying to figure out who was lying."
"And that should have been answer enough."
Her words struck Liam.
She saw it.
But it wasn't enough.
Because the problem wasn't that he was hurt.
The problem was that she was tired.
So very tired.
The next morning, Ravenna appeared in the stables.
Selene was brushing a chestnut mare.
Animals always calmed her.
Unfortunately, the peace didn't last long.
"There you are."
Selene closed her eyes.
"Just my luck."
Ravenna smiled.
"You've gotten bolder lately."
"And you're still insufferable."
The smile disappeared.
"Careful."
"About what?"
"About the tone you use with me."
Selene dropped the brush.
She turned around.
And for the first time, she didn't back down.
"Or what?"
Ravenna's eyes gleamed.
This was exactly what she wanted.
Conflict.
Anger.
A reaction.
"You're forgetting your place."
"No."
"You're just discovering that I'm not going to bow my head anymore."
For a moment, the two of them stood in silence.
Like two predators sizing each other up.
Then Ravenna spoke:
"Liam spent the entire morning with me."
Selene didn't answer.
"We spent hours discussing war strategies."
Silence.
"It's funny."
"He seems to trust my opinion quite a bit."
Pain tore through Selene.
But she didn't show it.
"Good for you."
Ravenna took a step forward.
"Do you know what's worse?"
"I don't care."
"He's starting to realize he needs someone capable of ruling beside him."
Selene felt her blood boil.
But she stood her ground.
"You talk as if you've already won."
Ravenna smiled.
"Maybe it's because I have."
That night, there was a banquet.
Representatives from neighboring packs had arrived in Ferrum.
The main hall was packed.
Music.
Food.
Laughter.
Politics.
Selene stayed beside Liam for most of the night.
Trying to act the way a Luna should.
But it was impossible to ignore the looks.
The comparisons.
The comments.
And Ravenna was everywhere.
Talking.
Smiling.
Charming everyone.
Shining.
As if that were where she belonged.
At one point, one of the visiting leaders said:
"Lady Ravenna has an impressive presence."
Liam merely nodded.
Another man added:
"She would make an excellent Luna."
The entire hall seemed to freeze.
Selene felt her heart stop.
For one second.
Just one second.
She waited.
Waited for Liam to respond.
Waited for him to correct the man.
Waited for him to defend her.
But Liam simply changed the subject.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
And that was worse than any humiliation.
In the early hours of the morning, Selene stood alone on the balcony of their room.
The cold wind tousled her hair.
Tears streamed silently down her face.
She didn't want to cry.
But she was tired of being strong.
Tired of pretending.
"You're suffering."
The voice appeared softly.
Ailyn.
Selene closed her eyes.
"You're back."
"I never left."
The presence felt stronger.
Closer.
More alive.
"I can't take this anymore."
"I know."
"They look at me as if I'm not enough."
"Because they're blind."
"Liam too?"
Ailyn fell silent.
A long, painful silence.
Then she answered:
"Liam is lost."
The answer hurt.
Because it was true.
"I love him."
"I know."
"Then why is this happening?"
Ailyn seemed to hesitate, as if carefully choosing her words.
"Because some people only understand the value of the light when they've nearly lost it."
Selene opened her eyes.
The moon shone above her.
White.
Immense.
Ancient.
"And if he loses me?"
The presence drew closer.
Warm.
Comforting.
Like an invisible embrace.
"Then it will be the greatest pain of his life."
For the first time since she had arrived in Ferrum...
Selene believed it.
And, for the first time, a small part of her began to wonder how much longer she could remain in that place.
Because the cracks forming between her and Liam were turning into chasms.
And not even love seemed capable of stopping them.